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During pregame planning, the Patriots decided not to attempt field goals if the line of scrimmage was outside the 30-yard line. But Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal in the third quarter of the Patriots' 24-3 victory over Baltimore cleared the crossbar by several yards, leaving the impression the Patriots could have gone for 3 points more often and from longer distances.

"That was definitely as far out as we wanted to go," Vinatieri said. "I was fortunate to get it up off the ground. We could have made it another 4 or 5 yards but it is what we feel we can do and feel comfortable doing. And, as the game went along [and] the conditions got worse, we backed it off a little more."

But as the game continued, the kicking game became more superfluous. Vinatieri had provided the Patriots' first 9 points on field goals of 28 yards on the second play of the second quarter; 40 yards on opening drive of the second half; and 48 yards on the Patriots' second second-half possession. Those kicks extended Vinatieri's streak to 21 consecutive successful field goals, four less than his team record. Vinatieri is 28 for 29 this season and passed Olindo Mare (Miami) and Ryan Longwell (Green Bay) on the all-time NFL list for field goal accuracy, improving to 240 for 292 (82.22 percent). Since the 2001 season, he is 87 for 100. And with 1,029 career points, Vinatieri moved within 101 points of all-time team leader Gino Cappelletti.

Vinatieri's numbers would be impressive for someone performing in the most sterile of conditions. But the degree of difficulty for execution can be extremely high at Gillette Stadium, and will likely deteriorate as the season continues. Vinatieri compared this game to the Patriots' 16-13 victory over Oakland in the 2002 playoffs.

"I can only remember one game where the situation was as hard or harder," Vinatieri said. "It was a whole different set of tough situations. There was snow in that game [against Oakland]. But the wetness [yesterday] made it hard for the snapper and holder."

As he spoke, Vinatieri revised his ratings of the conditions.

"There are three inches of mud out there," Vinatieri said. "It's maybe the worst field I've every played on. Our team is used to crappy weather and it can be a little advantage. But the bottom line is there are 11 guys out there against 11."

Vinatieri, 31, could be improving with age -- at least his health has improved. Last season, struggling with a back injury, Vinatieri connected on 25 of 34 field goal attempts, the worst percentage of his career.

"Physically, I feel great," Vinatieri said. "Last year I struggled with some [injury] issues."

Though the Patriots' margin of victory indicates a blowout, Vinatieri asserted that special teams play and field position enabled the team to succeed. Baltimore, though, seldom seemed threatening. Even when the Ravens gained possession on the Patriot 16-yard line late in the first half, they settled for a 22-yard field goal by Matt Stover, who was the most accomplished kicker on the field and is one place ahead of Vinatieri on the all-time NFL list for field goal accuracy.

"Special teams and field position are important, and they were maybe more important than any part of the game," Viantieri said. "If you can make them start with a longer field and your offense with a shorter field, it gives you a better opportunity to win the game.

"You never know what the outcome of the game will depend on. Every time you step on the field, there is the potential it will come down to a field goal."